In 2016, Americans’ biggest fears are that there are corrupt government officials in Washington and that there will be more terrorist attacks here in the states. Compare this to the biggest fears of the 1990s being Y2K and global warming, and you’ll see that fears have drastically evolved. I mean, the fear of Soviet Nukes was present then, but an even bigger fear has transferred to North Korea being a real world threat. These are real fears; a much more palpable fear is present now than there ever was, in let’s say 1992.
Unfortunately, like never before, our present fears are being used as ammunition against us in our selection of the nation’s commander-in-chief. In 2016, the fears that are yelled the loudest are merely intensified distractions, in hopes that the American people will overlook other, more important key issues. But when sleight of hand is used, those who are paying attention will see through the game, and are pushed to the other side in hopes of finding the closest version of the full truth that they can possibly find. Allegiance will always stand where there is truth. (And if the American people are as dumb as these candidates make them out to be, well, we’re all in trouble.) However, the sad reality is that by the time Clinton and Trump show their true selves, the election will be over, and we will be left with the winner’s actions and the senate they help select, rather than the words they spoke in debate halls and at campaign stops.
All of this being said, we can only go by what these two have done in the past, not by the polished words their speech writers have presented them with. I know I have probably added more fear with that statement, especially given their track records, but it’s the truth. The past is there to learn from, not to disregard, and in this case, we can learn a lot about these two people from looking back at their lives. Sure, people can change, but never is there a change so drastic that it takes one from crook to saint in a matter of weeks. They’ve been working on their self-inflicted labels for a lifetime.
So, for those of you who are strong enough to truly know who you are and what you believe, I can only urge you to look past the fear tactics and vote for the closest available option to your convictions. Vote for the one who may just bring about the change you want to see in this world. And if there’s no one you see fit to bring about good change, then maybe you should run for President next time. And who knows? If you become the change you wish to see in the world and speak truth along the way, you may just win.
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